Proposal for a Roundtable

Abstract

Stakeholders in Nigeria launched an advocacy for the development of community broadcasting in early 2000s. The participation base of that advocacy expanded over the years such that today, the umbrella organization which emerged – Nigeria Community Radio Coalition – has more than 500 members spread in all parts of the country. Among the achievements of the advocacy have been Government recognition of the importance of community broadcasting, demonstrated in the design of a policy document. The licencing of radio stations in campuses of academic communities. The acquisition of capacity to establish community radio stations by grassroots communities in various parts of the country Despite these achievements, many challenges remain. They include: Government pronouncement has not been translated by the regulator into licencing of grassroots community radio stations. Licenced and functioning campus radio stations face stringent regulatory oversight. Academic institutions have not provided appropriate curriculum and learning space which would produce practitioners with appropriate knowledge, skills and passion for community based broadcasting. This roundtable intends to bring together stakeholders in Nigerian community based broadcast/participatory media such as members of the Nigeria Community Radio Coalition, campus radio operators, Information Resource Centre (IRC) operators in the Niger Delta, academics, regulators, policy makers, practitioners in the ODL sector, etc. It will also accommodate participants from other parts of the world e.g. India, South Africa, Canada, Ghana, etc who have vital experiences, including those similar to Nigeria’s, to share. The roundtable will discuss challenges confronting the development of community (including campus) broadcasting in Nigeria, learn lessons from other parts of the world, and develop recommendations which advocates and policy makers in Nigeria will engage after the programme. This activity is expected to be held over lunch on two consecutive days during the PCF7. // Paper ID: 394